Shoe, in Particular a Sports Shoe

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a shoe, in particular a sports shoe, comprising an upper part ( 1 ) and a sole ( 2 ). Said sole ( 2 ) comprises a support or inner part ( 2 ′) which is joined to the upper part ( 1 ), an intermediate sole ( 2 ″) which is joined to the support or upper part ( 2 ′) and an outer sole ( 2 ′″) which is joined to the intermediate sole ( 2 ″). According to the invention, the intermediate sole ( 2 ″) is embodied at least over one part of the base outlet surface as a damping element in order to maintain the simple production possibilities of the spring and dampening ratio of the shoe, said damping element comprising a plurality of first elements ( 3 ) which are arranged next to each other and which extend, essentially, in a load direction (R) over a pre-determined height (H) in the unloaded state of the damping element, and is embodied as a hollow body defining a receiving area ( 4 ) in which an associated second element ( 5 ) with a smaller cross-section then the first element ( 3 ) can at least partially penetrate. The second element ( 5 ) extends essentially in the load direction (R) over a pre-determined height (h) in the unloaded state of the damping element ( 1 ), and is arranged in a coaxial manner in relation to the first element ( 3 ).

The invention relates to a shoe, in particular a sports shoe, with a shoe upper part and a sole, where the sole has a support part or inner part connected to the shoe upper part, a midsole connected to the support or inner part and an outsole connected to the midsole.

Shoes of this generic type are well known in the prior art. It is also known that damping elements can be integrated in particular into the midsole with the aim of influencing the springing and damping performance of the shoe in accordance with desired criteria, the result being to give the sole certain properties in this regard.

WO 03/092423 A1 discloses a damping element, having a specific structure, for a shoe, in particular for a sports shoe. The damping element has a large number of individual elements which have been arranged alongside one another and which respectively form a springing and damping chamber in the manner of a piston-and-cylinder system. First and second elements of corresponding shape have connection to one another by way of a connecting portion and when the sole is under load here the smaller element enters into the larger element, which forms a receptacle for this purpose.

This type of damping element according to the solution mentioned is provided primarily for the purpose of integration into a midsole, and there are further examples of this in the prior art. In this connection, reference is made to EP 0 387 505 A1, which discloses a honeycomb-shaped damping element which is used in a receptacle in the midsole of the shoe.

Of course, the manufacturing cost for this type of shoe is considerable. During production of the mid sole, a receptacle first has to be introduced into this, or this receptacle has to be manufactured concomitantly during manufacture of the sole. The damping element then has to be produced and finally this has to be incorporated into the midsole before this is connected to the further constituents of the shoe.

An object underlying the present invention is to provide a shoe, in particular a sports shoe, which features a simpler method of production, but without omitting the advantageous property of the previously known damping element. In particular, it is to be possible to retain control of the springing and damping performance of the shoe.

The achievement of this object via the invention is characterized in that the midsole is, at least across a part of the ground-contact area of the shoe, exclusively a damping element, which has a number of first elements arranged alongside one another which in essence extend across a prescribed height in a direction of loading in the unloaded condition of the damping element and, being hollow bodies, define a receptacle into which an associated second element, smaller in cross-sectional dimensions than the first element, can penetrate at least to some extent, where the second element in essence extends across a prescribed height in a direction of loading in the unloaded condition of the damping element and has been arranged coaxially with respect to the first element.

The starting point of the inventive concept is therefore that the damping element previously known per se is used in such a way that the midsole is formed exclusively therefrom—at least across a part of the area of the midsole.

It is preferable that the outsole is formed via a number of individual sole parts, where each sole part has been arranged at that end of the second element that faces away from the first element. The outsole is then segmented; each “piston” of the piston-and-cylinder elements of the midsole becomes associated with a part of the outsole in the region of contact with the ground.

The shape of the individual parts of the outsole here preferably corresponds to that of the second element—in a section perpendicular to the direction of loading.

As is previously known, the second element is also a hollow body according to one embodiment. However, it is also possible that the second element is an entirely solid or at least substantially solid part. It is also possible that the two elements associated with one another have connection to one another by way of an elastic connecting portion, which extends merely between the first element and the second element. It is also possible that respectively a first element and a second element, together with the connecting portion, form a gastight chamber.

The first and the second element have a mutually corresponding shape in a section perpendicular to the direction of loading. The shape here is especially polygonal, in particular hexagonal; a circular shape is also possible. This means that the cross-sectional geometry of the first and of the second element are mutually congruent, thus providing, in the first element, a receptacle which fits the second element.

It is advantageous that, in the unloaded condition of the midsole, the axial length of the first element is in essence outside of the axial length of the second element. This means that, in the unloaded condition of the midsole, the piston-like second element has been arranged axially outside of the cylinder-like first element. The “piston” then enters the “cylinder” only on loading of the damping element in the direction of loading.

It is possible that the first elements have connection to one another in their lateral region, or their lateral boundary walls are respectively formed from a shared portion. However, each element can also be manufactured as a separate component and then assembled.

It is also possible that the first and/or second elements have at least to some extent, in the unloaded condition of the damping element, different heights.

The profile of the connecting portion can be flat or else curved in a plane perpendicular to the direction of load in the unloaded condition of the damping element. The latter embodiment favours entry of the “piston” into the “cylinder” on loading.

It is preferable that the first element, the connecting portion and the second element are one-piece items. It is possible here that the first element, the connecting portion and the second element have been produced via a shared injection-moulding process.

For provision of gastight chambers, that end of the first element that faces away from the second element can have connection to a sealing foil. A gastight condition of that end of the second element that is distal with respect to the first element can be achieved via the outsole segment placed thereon.

The preferred material that can be used for the elements is plastic, in particular thermoplastic.

Materials that have proven successful are—as is known in the prior art—polyethylene, polypropylene, polybutene, polyamide, polyurethane, or a mixture of at least two of these plastics, and the plastic of the midsole here is particularly preferably translucent or transparent. A plastic of this type can likewise be used for the outsole, but it is preferable that the material here is not translucent or is not transparent.

The material of the first element, of the second element and of the connecting portion and the geometric dimensions of these parts, have been selected in order to establish the damping properties of the damping element.

In contrast with previously known solutions, the number of mutually adjacent or mutually connected damping elements itself provides the midsole, and it is exclusively these elements that form the midsole. If appropriate, that end of the second elements that faces away from the support part or inner part can be sufficiently wear-resistant and/or stiff and/or thick that this end region of the second elements functions and acts as an outsole, i.e. that there is then no separate outsole element attached to the end of the second element.

The midsole can absorb energy on loading of the sole in the direction of loading and in turn dissipate it on removal of load from the sole. In order that this can take place with achievement of a resilience effect on removal of pressure from the damping element, the lower axial end region of the first element and the upper axial end region of the second element have connection to one another by way of the connecting portion. The connecting portion is—as also are the first and second element—a part composed of elastic plastics material, and therefore when a load force is applied to the damping element in the direction of loading a deformation takes place. During this process, the second element enters, in the manner of a piston, the receptacle of the first element.

In order that the starting condition is regained after removal of pressure from the damping element, the following further measures can be taken in addition to the elastic design of the connecting portion:

That end of the first element that faces away from the second element can be connected to a sealing foil, in particular can be welded thereto. In this way, the first element, the second element, the connecting portion and the sealing foil form a gastight sealed space, which has ideal springing and damping properties.

Individual “piston-and-cylinder elements” have been arranged here adjacent to one another to form a damping element extending over a relatively large area. Whereas the first elements functioning as “cylinder” have connection to one another, the second elements, the “pistons”, are adjacent to one another without connection.

The springing and damping characteristic of the damping element can be adjusted or selected as desired via appropriate adjustment of the geometry of the sole elements and in particular of the heights and widths of the first and second elements, via the selection of the thickness and design of the connecting portions, and finally via the selection of the material of which these parts are composed. The springing and damping characteristic of the damping element—in particular the springing force as a function of spring displacement—can thus be selected substantially in accordance with a desired curve.

The drawing shows an inventive example.

FIG. 1 shows a diagram of a shoe, seen from the side,

FIG. 2 enlarges the detail “Z” according to FIG. 1 and

FIG. 3 shows the section A-B according to FIG. 2.

FIG. 1 shows a shoe, namely a sports shoe, but only very diagrammatically. As is known, the shoe has a shoe upper part 1, which has connection to a sole 2.

The sole 2 extends over a certain area in the front sole region 8. It likewise extends over a defined area in the rear sole region 9.

FIG. 2 gives more detail of the structure of the sole 2. The sole 2 is composed of three (sole) parts, namely a support part or inner part 2′, a midsole 2″ and an outsole 2′″. The support part or inner part 2′ can be an insole, a Strobel sole or actual shoe-upper material, forming the connection between the shoe upper part 1 and the midsole 2″. One particularly preferred embodiment provides that the support part or inner part 2′ has been manufactured as a plastics injection moulding (preferably composed of EVA) and has the shape of a shell.

The support part or inner part 2′ has connection to the shoe upper part 1. The connection can, by way of example, be produced via an injection-moulding process, by injecting the plastics material that forms the support part or inner part 2′ onto the upper part 1 composed, by way of example, of textile material. It is equally possible to adhesive-bond shoe upper part 1 and support part and inner part 2′.

The midsole 2″is composed of a large number of damping elements, whose structure is like that of a piston-and-cylinder system. The outsole 2′″ has been arranged at that end of the midsole 2″ distal with respect to the support part or inner part 2′, and is composed of a number of sole segments 2′″ corresponding to the number of the damping elements.

It may be noted that the structure of the entire sole does not have to be as explained. By way of example, it is possible that only the front sole region 8 has the design described, whereas the region of the rear of the foot can be of previously known design.

The exact structure of the sole 2 is apparent by viewing FIGS. 2 and 3 together.

In the inventive example, the underlying shape of the individual damping elements which form the midsole 2″—viewed in the direction R of loading of the sole 2—is hexagonal and honeycomb-like (see FIG. 2).

Each damping element has a first element 3, which extends across a defined height H and forms a receptacle 4. By way of a fillet-shaped connecting portion 6, that end of the first element 3 that faces away from the support part or inner part 2′ has connection to a second element 5, whose shape corresponds to the shape of the first element 3—viewed in the direction R—and this means that the second elements 5 also have a hexagonal shape in the inventive example. The second element 5 extends across a height h which does not have to be the same as the height H.

As can be seen from FIG. 3, the dimensions—width B of the first element 3 and width b of the second element 5—have been selected in such a way that the second element 5 can, on loading of the damping element in the direction R of load, enter the receptacle 4 defined via the first element 3. The first element 3 and the second element 5 therefore operate in the manner of a telescopic damper, where the first element 3 functions as a “cylinder” into which the second element 5 can enter in the manner of a “piston”.

An outsole segment 2′″ has been attached to, e.g. adhesive-bonded to, or else directly injection-moulded onto, that end of the second element 5 that faces away from the support part or inner part 2′, and is composed, by way of example, of abrasion-resistant plastics material. Viewed in direction R, the shape of the outsole segment 2′″also corresponds to that of the second element 5, although this does not necessarily have to be the case.

If a force is applied in the direction R to the outsole segment 2′″, as occurs when the shoe meets the ground, deformation occurs especially in the connecting portion 6, and, as explained, the second element 5 therefore enters the receptacle 4 of the first element 3 in the manner of a piston.

The space enclosed by the first element 3, connecting portion 6 and second element 5 can be gastight, thus exerting a favourable effect on spring-deflection behaviour.

If appropriate, a gastight condition with respect to the support part or inner part 2′ can be produced via a foil 7, which, if required, is adhesive-bonded or welded to that end region of the first elements 3 that faces toward the support part or inner part 2′.

Whereas in previously known solutions the outsole is practically always an element extending over an area and forming at least a substantial region of the area of contact with the ground, the outsole provided here is therefore a segmented outsole secured to the second elements.

KEY

-   1 Shoe upper part -   2 Sole -   2′ Support part or inner part -   2″ Midsole -   2′″ Outsole -   3 First element -   4 Receptacle -   5 Second element -   6 Connecting portion -   7 Sealing foil -   8 Front sole region -   9 Rear sole region -   R Direction of loading -   H Height of first element -   h Height of second element -   B Dimension of first element -   b Dimension of second element 

1. Shoe comprising a shoe upper part and a sole, where the sole has a support part or inner part connected to the shoe upper part a midsole connected to the support or inner part and an outsole connected to the midsole, wherein the midsole is, at least across a part of the ground-contact area of the shoe, exclusively a damping element, which has a number of first elements arranged alongside one another which in essence extend across a prescribed height (H) in a direction (R) of loading in the unloaded condition of the damping element and, being hollow bodies, define a receptacle into which an associated second element smaller in cross-sectional dimensions than the first element can penetrate at least to some extent, wherein the second element in essence extends across a prescribed height (h) in a direction (R) of loading in the unloaded condition of the damping element and has been arranged coaxially with respect to the first element, wherein the outsole is formed via a number of individual sole parts, wherein each sole part has been arranged at that end of the second element that faces away from the first element or that end of the first element that faces away from the second element, wherein the two elements associated with one another have connection to one another by way of an elastic connecting portion, which extends merely between the first element and the second element, and wherein the second element is located in the unloaded condition of the damping element, viewed in the direction (R) of loading, outside the first element.
 2. (canceled)
 3. Shoe according to claim 1, wherein the shape of the individual parts of the outsole corresponds to that of the second element or to that of the first element in a section perpendicular to the direction (R) of loading.
 4. Shoe according to claim 1, wherein the second element is also a hollow body.
 5. Shoe according to claim 1, wherein the second element is an entirely solid or at least substantially solid part.
 6. (canceled)
 7. Shoe according to claim 1 wherein respectively a first element and a second element together with the connecting portion form a gastight chamber.
 8. Shoe according to claim 1, wherein the first element and the second element have a mutually corresponding shape in a section perpendicular to the direction (R) of loading.
 9. Shoe according to claim 8, wherein the first element and the second element have a polygonal, in particular hexagonal, shape in a section perpendicular to the direction (R) of loading.
 10. Shoe according to claim 8, wherein the first element and the second element have a circular shape in a section perpendicular to direction (R) of loading.
 11. Shoe according to claim 1, wherein the first elements have connection to one another in their lateral region, or their lateral boundary walls are respectively formed from a shared portion.
 12. Shoe according to claim 1, wherein the first and/or second elements have at least to some extent, in the unloaded condition of the damping element, different heights (H, h).
 13. Shoe according to claim 1, wherein the connecting portion has a flat profile in a plane perpendicular to the direction (R) of loading in the unloaded condition of the damping element.
 14. Shoe according to claim 1, wherein the connecting portion has a curved profile in a plane perpendicular to the direction (R) of loading in the unloaded condition of the damping element.
 15. Shoe according to claim 1, wherein the first element the connecting portion and the second element are one-piece items.
 16. Shoe according to claim 15, wherein the first element the connecting portion and the second element have been produced via a shared injection-moulding process.
 17. Shoe according to claim 1, wherein that end of the first element that faces away from the second element has connection to a sealing foil.
 18. Shoe according to claim 1, wherein the elements are composed of plastic, in particular of thermoplastic material.
 19. Shoe according to claim 18, wherein the plastic provided comprises polyethylene, polypropylene, polybutene, polyamide, polyurethane or a mixture of at least two of these plastics.
 20. Shoe according to claim 18, wherein the plastic is translucent or transparent.
 21. Shoe according claim 1, wherein the outsole is composed of plastic, preferably of polyethylene, polypropylene, polybutene, polyamide, polyurethane, or a mixture of at least two of these plastics, and the material here is not translucent or is not transparent.
 22. Shoe according to claim 1, wherein the material of the first element of the second element and of the connecting portion and the geometric dimensions of these parts, have been selected in order to establish the damping properties of the damping element. 